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    Matador Ballard

    3.8 (1.2k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Order Matador Ballard Takeout or Delivery

    Matador Ballard Photos

    MATADOR BALLARD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Matador Ballard

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    Three Tacos
    Mark M.

    We love going to the Matador whenever doing something in Ballard. Very good location so it is pretty easy to use it as a meeting hub. The food is very good Mexican food. The dip flight is one of our favorites, it comes with bean dip, guacamole and queso dip. The salsa is also very tasty! They also have great and flavorful drinks that we enjoy! Fast and friendly service. Lots of conversations going on around you so it is a little loud. Not so much that you can not have your own conversation though. As I said great meet up hub with very tasty food and drinks.

    tequila
    Meredith F.

    Okay, first, I need to confess, I am a professional Mexican Foodie! HAHAAA. I know good Mexican food. The place, the vibe the ambiance is gorgeous. I love this sexy little dungeon of a feel. Very beautiful lighting. I love the bar. It's in such a fun location. A great date night place. Great selection of tequila too... esp if you like a nice sipping tequila. The bartender was busy, so kinda slow... but that is okay. The three dips with chips was the bomb. I loved my spicy prawn dish and the guac is really good here. My hubby's soft tacos were SO SO GOOD! We loved the steak the best. I loved everything about this place. Funny side note, I wanted to go to this other fabulous Mexican restaurant across the street (which I love and adore), but my hubby wanted me to try Matador --- so we did--- and I LOVED everything about it!

    Carne asada fajitas
    Celina S.

    Sooooooo salty the vibe is nice but I couldn't finish the carne asada fajitas. They also overcooked it to medium well It gets loud so it's not really a place for conversation unless you're ok shouting a bit

    Nachos w/ chorizo & plenty of toppings
    Tracy M.

    Another fun night at Matador. Great service, a beautiful save w/ a great vibe. Very busy night yet not too loud, we could hear each other talk yeah!

    Nachos, Matador Guacamole
    Selena L.

    After hearing people rave about this place for happy hour for a while, I finally came. I got a margarita, nachos, and street tacos and everything was so good! Can you believe the nachos and tacos are only $7 each? I even brought home leftovers. I also got the guacamole which came with two salsas, both were so limey and so good. I sat at the bar and shared my margarita with my partner, the bartender was really nice and asked if we wanted it to split into two little cups. It was definitely super packed for a Tuesday at 5pm, and I can see why. -1 star because there are no drinks on the happy hour menu, but the food is so worth it, plus they give you chips and salsa to start as well!

    The spread - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Kyle W.

    One of the better happy hours out there! Most famously known for their grande nachos, which are $7. Add $3.50 for most protein and $5 for marinated steak. I happen to see the menu advertising free nachos if you download their app so I did - basically $7 discount since the protein surcharge is not included. We also got the guacamole dish for $7 which also had 2 different types of salsa. I think just go for the nachos because one order is more than enough to feed 2 people. When we saw the plate, no kidding. This is on top of complimentary chips and salsa. We pretty much paid $12+tax+tip for 2 dishes which is very hard to beat for happy hour or even just a meal in Seattle these days, and we had leftovers of the nachos. It was not too busy Monday 5:30pm, just know that happy hour is 4-6pm for the earlier times.

    Strawberry pomegranate Margarita for National margarita day!
    Berneta A.

    A quick errand run in Ballard turned into a full-blown quest to survive the parking madness, find a killer late lunch, and secure a well-deserved Marg....enter Matador! This area of Ballard requires patience for parking. There's a small paid lot across the street and another next to the restaurant, but with the sheer volume of restaurants and cars crammed into one area, you'll probably do a few laps in the one-way-street labyrinth. Bring your game face or better yet, just Uber. Once inside, the place is a total vibe. Intricate ironwork decor is everywhere (apparently crafted by one of the owners himself), adding to the cool, rustic aesthetic, more so Spanish Spain Vibes than Mexican. Next time, we're snagging seats at the end of the bar near the door because there's a cozy little fireplace situation happening there. We landed right in that golden hour transition between late lunch, happy hour (which, by the way, has a killer menu), and dinner. Solid, solid Mexican food. My husband's Matador Quesadillas were next-level definitely an upgraded version of the classic. That garlic crema was absolutely unreal, they should put it on everything. My Matador Bowl with Chorizo was a hefty portion, super flavorful, and exactly what I was craving. The Margs? Fantastic. They know what they're doing here. My strawberry pomegranate margarita for Margarita Day was just delicious, not too sweet, slightly salty, and made with incredibly smooth tequila. Definitely the kind of drink that goes down a little too easily. The only slight buzzkill........We thought the chips and salsa were complimentary... until the bill arrived with a sneaky $2.50 charge. Not a dealbreaker, but a heads-up would've been nice. That said, we'd still pay for it again because the salsa is fantastic, it had this nice roasted fresh, homemade flavor. Definitely some of the best we've had. Guess it's just a sign of the times with inflation hitting everything, even the once-free chips and salsa aren't safe! Also, the 20% auto-grat with no option to adjust was a bit of a surprise, what if we want to tip more? Don't get me wrong, we're all for recognizing hardworking hospitality staff, so happy to pay for it. But it's always nice to have a choice. Service was a little stretched thin on this visit, our bartender was also running the door, and while our server greeted us promptly, placing our order took a bit longer than expected. Would we come back? Absolutely. There aren't a ton of spots the other side of the bridge in Seattle serving up Mexican food with this level of quality and freshness. Plus, that happy hour is worth the trip alone. Next time, we're coming in an Uber, sit by that fireplace, order more margs and extra garlic crema.

    Chorizo nachos
    Megan S.

    Once again reiterating, this is an unbeatable happy hour. The food is good and our server was also very friendly! The haba prawns stood out to me, but you can't really go wrong with this HH imo!

    Cali-style habanero steak burrito

    It took a while to get the food, but it's understandable since they have to climb up to heaven to source their delicious Cali-style habanero steak burrito on a busy Friday night ;) Also a very cool atmosphere. Love the real candles all throughout the place.

    Take & Bake Nachos
    Rabeeya A.

    Best happy hour in Seattle! Food was great quality and great price Parking is free street parking Great for a late night meal!

    Dip Flight
    Sameer K.

    The food is delicious. I ordered Dip Flight it is certainly worth every bite. All the three dips were well decorated and very tasty. Matador bowl is another tasty dish. It is more than enough i quantity. The interior is dark and a bit noisy. The staff is nice. The service was slow. But that gives you time to chat. There is a wait time and no reservations. (They lost a star for that)

    Nachos with carnitas
    Meralina M.

    The ambiance here is great and so is the staff!! The nachos are so tasty, and loaded up, there's a bunch of them! They also have a non alcoholic mint drink that was quite delicious as well. Really loved it here

    Tamarind ginger margaritas
    Ami S.

    Beautiful summer day so we sat outside, took some time for someone to come take our drink orders. Drinks were yummo. We got a variety of dishes and they were all delicious. Guacamole, quesadillas/ chile releno was delicious and we tried beyond street taco ( def a surprise) will go back fur it. Ended with a mezcal flight.

    Happy Hour Menu

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    Thanks for your review, Ciara! 

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    Zak M.

    We love the 5-star feedback, Mark! Thanks for your review. 

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    Zak M.

    We love the 5-star feedback, Kyle! Thanks for your review. 

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    Thanks for the great feedback, Sarah! Please join us again soon. 

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    We love the 5-star feedback, Nel! Thanks for your review. 

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    Page 1 of 31

    Matador Ballard Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Matador Ballard

    Are dogs allowed in the outdoor seating area?

    Hi there! We do allow dogs on the patio :)

    Does this restaurant have air conditioning?

    Hi Mel, We do have air conditioning. We also get a good cross breeze when we open the big front… Read more

    Do they have private room for larger groups?

    Hi there! We do rent out our Mezcaleria for private events. It holds up to 40 people comfortably. Please email me directly at rcassidy@ matadorrestaurants.com and I can send… Read more

    Coming from out of town, I assumed parking is free after 8 pm. What is the policy? My assumption cost us ...$44 bucks. Hehe.

    Parking is free around here after 8...if you can find street parking!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Stumbletown - Roast parsnips. Coffee rubbed, mole, queso fresco.

    Stumbletown

    4.4(214 reviews)
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    I went with friends on a weekend for a late lunch. It was pretty empty so we got a table right…read moreaway. After we were seated, we were told that the menu was out of date. We each ended up getting a sandwich and sharing a large fry. The fries were good especially with the aioli sauce that was included for dipping. I got a chicken parm sandwich. It wasn't mind blowing by any means but it was a good sandwich. This is also one of the sandwiches that was not listed on the old menu. I don't tend to crave sandwiches so I can't give a better review beyond it was good. I would recommend getting the fries though.

    I heard about this gin-focused bar and restaurant from a friend and had to check it out as gin is…read moremy favorite spirit. It's not a common favorite for others, and I often find most menus to be lacking in creative gin specials. Stumbletown fixed that problem for me. With a dedicated menu for gin cocktails to an extensive array of different distillers, I was amazed. We enjoyed our cocktails thoroughly and also enjoyed some light bites. The arancini was a special of the evening and came out perfectly hot and crispy. The calamari was also fried very well. I did dock a star because about 80% of the food items on the menu were unavailable even though it wasn't closing yet. We did also get a little lost and ended up at stumbletown's sandwich shop before we found our way here. Luckily they're close by each other!

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    Stumbletown - Chilled Corn bisque with radish, Calabrian chili oil and smoked trout (trout optional but HIGHLY recommend)

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    Ruby

    Ruby

    4.7(30 reviews)
    2.0 miGreenwood, Phinney Ridge

    What a fun and friendly place. Very welcoming. Fun snacks made in the air fryer in the back room…read more Excellent cocktails with amusing names. Go on the early side as it is quite popular and seating is limited.

    This is a fairly small, hole in the wall, neighborhood bar with speakeasy vibes, though it is…read morefairly easy to locate the bar since the name of the bar is painted in a large wall. We walked in as a party of 2 on a Thursday around 9pm and it was not too busy - probably half the bar was occupied. We opted to sit at one end of the bar because the bar seats are where the vibes are at. The place is decorated in a fairly elegant and old school manner, so you are somewhat transported away from the outside reality. We got the Tobe's Thique Mint and Garden Party. I loved the creaminess and cinnamon afternotes of Tobe's Thique Mint, and it also looks somewhat pretty. It is quite a heavy drink, so one was enough to fill me up. The Garden Party was a bit of a miss since as much as I tasted the orange and grapefruit, it was a very light drink and tasted a little watered down. The biggest plus is that the drinks are fairly affordable compared to the greater Seattle area, priced at $14. I liked how their menu says 14 for $14, as they have just 14 cocktails to choose from and the drinks seem to rotate seasonally. For us, we went just in time to still have the spring menu, but they will change to the summer menu on June 20.

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    Ruby - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Ruby
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    Essex - Cloudburst brew

    Essex

    4.0(84 reviews)
    0.9 miBallard, Phinney Ridge
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    i know most people come here just waiting for delancey but i might argue this is the better…read moreexperience. beautifully decorated, amazing service. and you can get delancey meatballs here which is the best thing in the menu. cocktails are a touch pricey even for seattle but i'd go back.

    A nice little bar (Essex), associated with Delancey. It's clear that the wait for a table at…read moreDelancey is frequently long, and they have wisely separated the bar area, and made it independent, so that waiting at the bar (Essex) wouldn't clog the front entrance of Delancey. We ordered munchies and drinks while we waited for our table at Delancey. The bartender / server knew we would be headed to Delancey in 40 minutes or so, and handled things well accordingly. We got a plate of olives (tasty, great finger food) and drinks. The Yonder cider was good, not too sweet. The Martini was tasty. I had two quibbles: The first was with the pricing: the martini was charged as two separate items: 1) gin (I suppose the charge varies by the kind of gin or vodka in your martini) 2) martini (which is apparently the non-vodka or or non-gin part of your drink) While I'm sure this makes it easier to track for the bartender and inventory, as well as for charging, as a customer, it's a little odd to have a mixed drink be a two-part charge. The second was the included 20% automatic gratuity. I don't object to the concept of a standard service charge, I just wish it had been more prominently displayed so that I wouldn't have added a 20% tip on top of that (and my tip was on the amount that included tax, service charge and drinks / food). So, buyer beware ... the service is good, the ambiance is nice, the food and drinks are good -- but the payment / billing is non-standard, and can cause unexpected surprises.

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    Essex - Housemade Seasonal Shrub

    Housemade Seasonal Shrub

    Essex
    Essex

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    Sophon - Kroeung Chicken Khmeraage ($17, 2/2/24)

    Sophon

    4.4(140 reviews)
    1.7 miPhinney Ridge

    Everything was delicious! Lots of flavor in all dishes. We tried two small plates, the seasonal…read moregreens with salted soy beans and shallots and the tuna crudo. For our main course, we went with the pork belly and were not disappointed. Service was attentive. Food came out quickly! Lots of GF/gluten free and DF options! Loved to ambiance! Very cozy.

    Dinner from Nov 26, 2025 I have been meaning to dine at…read moreSophon in Greenwood/Phinney Ridge area ever since a Cambodian friend raved about them. I am showing my age by saying the restaurant is VERY LOUD, and our table was in a very dark spot in the restaurant. Oddly, they didn't have enough table lamps for all the dark tables. Our server said they "ran out". How does that happen? I stalked a departing table to take their rechargeable lamp. Anyway, my expectations were likely too high going in, and I was annoyed before even ordering, turning on our cellphone light to read the menu. The food is pretty good, though not mind-blowing good like the reviews suggest, and we had one bad dish. They offer varied Khmer dishes beyond noodle varieties, which is a plus. Go if you are looking for variety, skip the fish, bring ear plugs, and hope you have a brighter table than ours. Parking is street only. 3 Stars for the food, minus 1 star for the restaurant environment (unrelated to staff) The Food: k'tiss dip with crudités, $18 - 4 Stars We chose the marrow stone blue oyster mushroom option - p'set. The mushrooms are sautéed in Khmer seasonings, fermented bean curd, and coconut milk. The veggies are mildly pickled. They paired surprisingly well and a unique dish to try. kroeung kumeraage, $15 - 4 Stars This dish has an option of fried chicken or fried mushrooms. We chose the chicken since we already had mushrooms. Kroeung is the Khmer seasoning. Our server said this dish and papaya salad are amongst the most popular. Since we have a veggie dish, we chose this over the papaya salad (which looks great, too). The chicken is lightly fried, not crispy outside, super tender, and paired well with the kroeung aioli. trei chmouy tuk tei omperi, $40 - 1 Star The menu says serves 2 but not really. The is a pan seared fish, make your own fish wrap. We did not know we ordered a DIY dish, which is ok in principle, just not good to be surprised. The menu doesn't say so; the server didn't mention it. Luckily, by this time of the meal, we have acquired the little table lamp, which enabled me to see the long fish bones that had not been removed. FIVE of them. The noodles are a pathetic overcooked limp pile. The best part is the turmeric sauce. Do not order this dish. Epilogue: I happened to walk by Sophon this past weekend. I was surprised to see a sign saying they are temporarily closed to resolve internal issues. (See photo) That is never a good reflection of management. There is now a GoFundMe for the unpaid staff who had to quit their jobs.

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    Sophon - View of one end of the bar counter. (2/2/24)

    View of one end of the bar counter. (2/2/24)

    Sophon - Papaya salad

    Papaya salad

    Sophon - Nhoam salad

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    Nhoam salad

    Roam - One of my favorite salads in Ballard Taco Steak Salad

    Roam

    4.4(16 reviews)
    0.3 miBallard

    Roam has become my go to neighborhood bar. We watched almost all the Mariners Playoff Games there…read more Great specials and Happy Hour. Currently they have Monday Night Football specials and the HH runs 4-7 with great deals. My go to food wise isn't on the HH menu but doesn't matter I almost always order it. Cocktails it depends what I'm in the mood for sometimes I just do NA options. What really makes Roam special is the team all three main bartenders are friendly and make everyone feel at home. Alex, Trent and Jonah are great, you can tell they care about the establishment they work for. Comfortable non stuffy space we usually sit at the bar but there is a couch and tables with stools available as well on the first floor which is where we usually hang out during the weekdays.

    Trent really knows how to create an experience. This place is seriously one-of-a-kind it's…read moreliterally the only spot I know where you can play basketball and shoot pool at the same time. But what really stands out is the mixology. These aren't your typical cocktails they're doing something really creative and unique here. I recommend trying the Hugo, Bourbon St. Fashion. Each drink had its own character and profile. The upstairs area is where it's at. The atmosphere up there just hits different, perfect energy that makes you want to stay all night. Pro tip: if you go on Sundays, up-and-coming house and EDM DJs to perform. It's a great way to discover new talent. I recommend dropping in on the weekend.

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    Roam
    Roam - Elote cup and chips from HH menu and quesadillas from MNF menu

    Elote cup and chips from HH menu and quesadillas from MNF menu

    Roam - Sapa: Empress Gin, St Germaine, egg white, Tonic, Basil and cloud

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    Sapa: Empress Gin, St Germaine, egg white, Tonic, Basil and cloud

    The Ink Drinker - My mocktail was fantastic.

    The Ink Drinker

    4.3(16 reviews)
    0.1 miBallard

    My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday afternoon for a reading date and I was obsessed with the…read morecosy reading aesthetic and welcoming atmosphere. When we first got into the bar, the hostess asked us if we had a reservation, I hadn't known beforehand that you needed a reservation and I said no. They told us we were limited to sitting there for I think an hour or an hour and a half, I can't remember, but I thought it was weird considering at least half the restaurant was empty and stayed that way the whole time we were there. But after that weird interaction to start, the rest of our night was so magical. Sometimes I would get distracted from my book just looking at the decor. I love how open and spacious the place is and there were so many cosy reading spots. I ordered Daisy's Downfall which tasted kind of like a cosmopolitan and was absolutely delicious, I loved the bright flavours and how perfectly it paired with the charcuterie board we got. As a cheese lover, I was so excited to see they had charcuterie on the menu. The pear slices and the beechers cheese were some of the highlights. My boyfriend and I had a great time reading our books and taking cute aesthetic pictures for our Instagrams. The only thing that kind of threw me off is that fifteen minutes before we were about to leave, a couple on a first date was seated adjacent to us and were talking super loudly. But I was still able to lock in and finish my book and I had a great time, my boyfriend and I definitely want to come back for more reading dates.

    Such a cool place! My friend and I came on a Friday night around dinner time and it was packed, but…read morewe were lucky enough to get a table in around 10 minutes. The inside is so well decorated and it's like a library x bar. There were a lot of people just hanging out - reading, crocheting, etc and it was a very pleasant vibe. We both got drinks and a couple of flatbreads to share. I got Daisy's Downfall, which was the perfect cocktail imo and just the right strength. We shared the asian pear & proscuitto flatbread as well as the cauliflower curry one, both of which were really yummy! I loved the soft crust and crispy edges a lot. Service was super attentive as well. Overall, a great place to hang!

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    The Ink Drinker - Cocktails

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    The Ink Drinker - Exterior

    Exterior

    The Ink Drinker - Exterior

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    Exterior

    Brimmer & Heeltap - Grilled Whole Sardines with lemon and gremolata

    Brimmer & Heeltap

    4.3(688 reviews)
    1.0 miBallard
    $$

    Absolutely delicious. Probably one of the best cocktails I've had in Seattle. All around the…read morecocktails were great. I usually don't even like mezcal but this was eliteeee. The service was amazing, our server walked us through the dishes and helped us choose. The chicken came out looking a little unseasoned but it was the table favorite because it had the most flavor out of everything else. Looks can be deceiving lol. That potato's are amazing and a good side dish! They have a little patio as well with heating!

    How I heard of this place: Not having realized how long the establishment has been around, some…read morefriends suggested we give it a go for our Taste Buds Dinner Club, and we made it happen. Type of cuisine: "We never tire of talking to our guests about how we got our quirky name. Inspired by two British drinking terms, Brimmer & Heeltap seeks to celebrate the moments that exist between the first sip of one's libation and the last drops lingering at the bottom of the glass. Since late 2013 we've delighted in creating an environment that is inviting, lively, and comforting. A sense of playfulness is present in everything we do, from the inventive dishes our culinary team prepares, to the friendly, genuine hospitality we provide. We're a bistro that takes pride in being a neighborhood place - the kind you can escape to at day's end for a delicious meal shared among friends." Ambiance: "Located in the former Le Gourmand space in beautiful Ballard, Brimmer & Heeltap offers an intimate, cozy atmosphere complete with an open kitchen, full bar, and multiple sections to drink and dine in. Our garden patio is one of the best-kept secrets in the city, offering a dreamy place to dine outdoors during Seattle's spring and summer months. We also have a tucked-away back studio that offers the perfect setting for special, private gatherings year-round. Just how many pennies does it take to cover a floor? Just ask Brimmer & Heeltap's proprietress Jen who collected tens of thousands of them from family, friends, and the community to help execute the vision of a cool gathering placed dubbed, naturally, the "Penny Room." This dining room, beloved for both its wall of menus and its shining penny floor, is a favorite place to break bread with loved ones, and plays into the restaurant's blend of nostalgic and contemporary design. The restaurant was designed in collaboration with Sean Sifagaloa of KRFTWRK and local builder Mike Marian, owner of Marian Built. Light, texture, metal, wood, and floral elements are all at play here. This historic building possesses a playful, familiar charm that we wanted to preserve in its latest incarnation." What I ordered: Wishing to sample a little of everything, we were served, family style, two orders of Bread ($9 each) - buttered with salt and pepper; Fritto Misto ($12) - assorted, lightly fried and pickled vegetables with tarragon aioli; Smashed Burrata ($19) - snap peas, preserved lemon, mint, basil, sherry reduction; Carrot & Tahini Dip ($16) - caramelized garlic, feta, pistachio, crudite; two orders of Heirloom Tomatoes ($21 each) - melon, chevre, crispy quino, soft herbs; Crispy Potatoes ($16) - whipped feta, hot honey, mint; Mushroom Agnolotti ($34) - roasted maitakes, chanterelles, whipped ricotta, miso butter, thyme; Roast Chicken ($42) - chickpea, berbere yogurt, marinated cucumber, mint gremolata. To finish off our meals, we shared the Olive Oil Cake ($14) - basil yogurt cremeux, strawberry gel, and the Chocolate Tiramisu ($16) - mascarpone, rum, amaretto, candied hazelnuts. What I loved: Oh man, every dish was delightful. I found something to savor and repeat in each of the dishes we were served. From the sweetness of the heirloom tomatoes, to the creamy burrata, from the crispy potatoes, to the fresh peas and everything in between. Our least favorite, at the table was the mushroom Angnolotti, inconsistent from bite to bite. The presentation of the Carrot & Tahini dip was a bit haphazard compared to the rest of the dishes served, but the flavor was still lovely. Why I loved it: The service was unparalleled, comfortable yet professional and quick to offer recommendations for our larger party. The decorations and quaint spaces truly welcoming, and the food, excellent. Cost: High ($40+ per person)

    Photos
    Brimmer & Heeltap - Planning a celebration? Let us make it unforgettable! Intimate sit-down dinners; lively cocktail parties; we'll make it unforgettable

    Planning a celebration? Let us make it unforgettable! Intimate sit-down dinners; lively cocktail parties; we'll make it unforgettable

    Brimmer & Heeltap - Enjoy our delicious Half Chicken, with creamy mascarpone polenta, caramelized red onion, and topped with a green apple and habanero zhug.

    Enjoy our delicious Half Chicken, with creamy mascarpone polenta, caramelized red onion, and topped with a green apple and habanero zhug.

    Brimmer & Heeltap - Winter Salad: Crisp and local purple kale, shaved kohlrabi, Cara Cara orange wedges and a bright sumac crème fraiche dressing.

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    Winter Salad: Crisp and local purple kale, shaved kohlrabi, Cara Cara orange wedges and a bright sumac crème fraiche dressing.

    Matador Ballard - mexican - Updated May 2026

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